Yeap. On Sophia Loren's own website, it states that she was born in Rome.

Anyhow, Pozzuoli has been experiencing "bradyseism" for ages, which means the land gets lifted up and falls down due to magma activity. Here's a link:
http://www.fact-index.com/b/br/bradyseism.html

Learnt about it last night when I was watching an old video by National Geographic on Vesuvius.

I'll just assume I'm right. Just revoke my privileges if not, yk. :-)

To continue with the animal theme....

Clue: This instrument (5 letters) is used to be depict this animal (4 letters) in an oft-played piece of music. Even if you're not a classical music fan, the chances are that you've heard this bit many times.

yk/111op: Indeed, Sophia Loren is a Neapolitan and was born in Naples, not Rome, despite whatever the website says. My family friends live in Vomero (in Naples) and their aunt and uncle grew up with Sophia and knew her family during the 1940s/1950s.

Pozzuoli, Cuma, Baia, and the surrounding areas in and around "I Campi Flegrei" are very interesting as Nero, Hadrian, Tiberius, and many Roman emperors lived and died in the area. It is a cultural minefield and certainly worth a day trip if you will be down in the Naples area.

I leave for Italia in exactly 1 week from today - can't wait!

111op, I so don't know your clue but will give it a shot - the 'gamba' or 'rebec'????

Hey, thanks Huitres.

I'll give you a hint to make it easier. The piece of music is French and the title contains the word "animals."

Anyway, if you get the next clue, I know that I won't be able to do it and so can rest for a bit. :-)

And don't forget you need to give both the instrument and the animal it's supposed to depict.

Sorry, I'm being confusing. The piece of music in question is a part of a bigger piece of French music with the word "animals" in the title. The French composer has a hyphenated name.

This should make it very easy now. :-)

It's Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals. The piece is the swan? Is it the cello?

Yes, of course.

I was hoping Huitres will give me a clue I won't even bother looking at. Now I guess you get the next clue and I'll probably be distracted. :-)

Huitres, thanks for the info. Too many places I haven't been to yet, but will put that on the list. Have a good trip next week.

Yes, enjoy your trip, Huitres.

111op- sorry to disappoint you! Don't want to distract you from your distraction. :)

Maybe you should just give a super-tough one then. :-)

It's my day off today (well, sort of), that's why I had time to research the clues.

Next clue:
This "country" recently has been rushing to come up with a new national anthem to replace their old anthem to be played at the Athens Olympics. However, during an emergency parliament session last week, they failed to approve the new anthem.

"Country": 3 words 6,3,10

We both got too carried away -- we've stopped giving a letter hint. Gosh. :-)

It's Serbia and Montenegro?

Thanks guys, I enjoy playing this 'puzzle' with you both! (As an historian and an obvious trivia buff, I'm full of useful and not-so-useful info - my family cracks up but at least they know who to come to when they need info on somewhere/some place!)

I'll jump in on a clue that I think I can figure out - not these music ones! :)

I didn't provide the letter, as I figured the answer (3 words) would make it rather easy.

Yes, it is Serbia & Montenegro.
Here's 2 BBC news link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3546264.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3557010.stm

I guess the composer has been trying to incorporate the 2 states' state songs, unfortunately, they are VERY different in style.

Ah, but that violates the rules. :-)

Ok, I'll give a history clue. I was amused when I read about this recently.

Clue: This French author is alleged to have argued that the name of this empire is a misnomer because the empire possesses none of the three characteristics of its name.

French author: 8 letters (2nd = "o")
Empire's name: 3 words (4, 5, 6)

Thanks! I knew this one:

Voltaire
Holy Roman Empire

Great, so it's your clue!

It's so funny -- he quipped that HRE was "neither Holy nor Roman nor Empire."

I had a good laugh.

I know, I like Voltaire, his quip about the HRE was so right! Voltaire was a frequent guest of Germany's Frederick the Great at his 'Sans Souci' Palace in Potsdam. Frederick had these famous "Midnight Suppers" of about 20 European intellectuals, writers, etc -- perhaps that is where Voltaire came up with his HRE barb?! I found it amusing that a German king totally disdained his own countrymen and opted instead for all Frenchmen in his court, including Rousseau as well!

Ok, my clue is:

These islands (1 word, 11 letters) have been the home to Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Angevins and Bourbons over the last 2,500 years. This designer (2 words, 7 letters and 6 letters) has a villa there where this actress (2 words, 5 letters and 7 letters) has stayed in recently.